Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer – Classification Change

Following an open and public consultation, an independent Review Panel determined on April 23, 2014 that the trade of Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer should be reclassified as compulsory.

To ease the process of changing the trade’s classification from voluntary to compulsory, the Ontario College of Trades (the College) is taking a two-year implementation approach. During the full two-year period, starting February 2, 2015, the trade will remain voluntary. However, on February 2, 2017 there will be a number of requirements that change in terms of the practise of the trade.

Membership in the College, along with a valid Certificate of Qualification is key to being in compliance in a compulsory trade. When the classification changes, individuals in the Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer trade will need to be members in good standing in one of the College’s following membership classes in order to continue to work legally:

Apprentices Class (statement of membership);

Journeyperson Candidates Class (statement of membership); or

Journeypersons Class (Certificate of Qualification/Provisional Certificate of Qualification) issued by the College.

When the Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer trade becomes compulsory, only members of the College in the above membership classes can:

practise (do the work) of Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installers;

be employed or otherwise engaged to do the work of the trade; and

use the compulsory trade title (or any abbreviation of that title) to describe themselves or their work (e.g. Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer).

In addition, as of February 2, 2017, only members of the Journeypersons Class of the College who hold a valid College-issued Certificate of Qualification:

can use the title “Journeyperson”; and,

count as journeypersons for ratio purposes.

Classification Review

On March 19, 2013, skilled trades professionals in the Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer trade requested a review of their trade’s voluntary classification through their Trade Board. For more information on the classification review process, please click here.

Following an open and public call for Written Submissions and oral consultations led by an independent Review Panel, on April 23, 2014, the College received the Panel’s decision that the trade should be reclassified as a compulsory trade. The Review Panel considered all submissions received against a set of criteria that included public safety, economic impact of reclassification, and the health and safety of apprentices and journeypersons working in the trade.

After receiving feedback from industry through the Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer Trade Board, the College’s Board of Governors worked with the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development (MAESD) to develop a regulation to implement the reclassification.

The regulations has now been posted to e-Laws (ONTARIO REGULATION 20/15, 21/15, 22/15 and 23/15), and the classification change will be fully implemented in 2017.

Implementation Approach

On April 28, 2014, the Trade Board for the Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer trade passed a resolution recommending a two-year implementation period for the reclassification with a temporary one-year Certificate of Qualification exam exemption more commonly known as a “grandparenting” provision. The Trade Board’s recommendation was accepted by both the Construction Divisional Board and the Board of Governors.

As of February 2, 2015, the two-year implementation period is in effect. During this time, the trade remains voluntary, and affected individuals have the opportunity to take action and meet the changing requirements for the trade. The first year of the two-year implementation period includes a one-year Certificate of Qualification exam exemption for qualified individuals who are engaging in the work of the Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer trade who do not have a Certificate of Qualification in the trade and who:

have a Certificate of Apprenticeship in the trade, OR

have qualifications and experience that are equivalent to a Certificate of Apprenticeship in the trade.

For more information on how these changes affect you, whether you qualify for the exam exemption, and what you need to do to ensure you are in compliance once the trade’s classification changes, please see below.

Certain individuals may be exempt from some requirements related to compulsory certification. Please click here to find out if this applies to you.

Still have questions?

The College’s Client Service Staff are available in-person at the College (Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) and by phone toll-free at 1-855-299-0028 (Monday to Friday between 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.)